Happy birthday in Portuguese: plus congratulations and good luck

TL;DR: Happy birthday in Portuguese is feliz aniversário; you can also add parabéns, which means congratulations, or boa sorte, which means good luck. These phrases are used in both Brazilian and European Portuguese, though pronunciation and some informal expressions may vary between the two varieties. This makes them useful phrases to learn together, whether you are visiting Portugal or Brazil.

This guide covers the three phrases that cover most Portuguese celebrations, from feliz aniversário for birthdays, to parabéns for congratulations and boa sorte for good luck. The article also provides a table of longer birthday wishes. It explains why parabéns is what you are most likely to hear on an actual birthday, and where Brazilian and European usage differs.

How do you say "Happy Birthday" in Portuguese?

Happy birthday in Portuguese is feliz aniversário. It is a combination of feliz, meaning happy, and aniversário, which means anniversary or birthday, depending on the context. You can also add someone's name to personalise the message. Here is an example:

“Feliz aniversário, Maria!” means “Happy birthday, Maria!”

The phrase feliz aniversário is straightforward in European and Brazilian Portuguese. Native speakers use it for spoken greetings, text messages, cards, or social media posts to celebrate another person's special day. However, they also often use parabéns, which means congratulations, to celebrate someone on their birthday.

Is "Parabéns" the same as "Happy Birthday"? 

Parabéns means congratulations, but native Portuguese speakers often use it for birthdays. It is a very common expression and can be used on its own without saying feliz aniversário.

However, speakers can also use the terms together in a birthday context. For instance, “parabéns, feliz aniversário” means “congratulations, happy birthday”. The two have different literal meanings, but they work together naturally in these situations.

Parabéns is also used for achievements and other occasions, making it useful beyond birthdays. While the exact sentence can change depending on what you are congratulating someone for accomplishing, the main keyword remains parabéns. Examples include the following:

• Parabéns pelo trabalho!: Congratulations on the work!
• Parabéns pela conquista!: Congratulations on the achievement!

Are there other common birthday phrases in Portuguese? 

Yes, some everyday object and concepts have different names in Mexican and Spain Spanish. This can include the following:

Parabéns and feliz aniversário are easy to read and harder to catch at speed, especially the four syllables of aniversário. Memrise pairs each phrase with a native speaker saying it, so the rhythm is learned alongside the words.

Are birthday and congratulations phrases different in Portugal and Brazil? 

The core expressions, feliz aniversário, parabéns, and boa sorte, are shared by both European and Brazilian Portuguese. While the two varieties differ in pronunciation and some vocabulary, these common celebratory expressions remain the same.

However, listening to native speakers of the variety you are learning helps you become familiar with the pronunciation and rhythm of the expressions. Language learning apps like Memrise include native-speaker videos to help learners master these expressions as spoken in Brazil or Portugal.

How do you say "good luck" in Portuguese? 

Good luck is boa sorte in Portuguese. The expression is made up of two words: boa, meaning good, and sorte, meaning luck. You can use boa sorte when someone is about to take an exam, start something important, compete in an event or face a situation where they hope for a positive result.

Boa sorte can also be combined with another expression. For example. “Boa sorte e parabéns” means “Good luck and congratulations”. This makes it a useful expression that most people use during birthday celebrations.

Frequently asked questions

What else can you say on someone's birthday in Portuguese?

You can combine feliz aniversário and parabéns with short personal wishes. For example, “feliz aniversário! Tudo de bom!” means “Happy birthday! All the best!” The exact wording can vary according to the relationship between the speakers and whether you are using Brazilian or European Portuguese. However, beginners can stick to using feliz aniversário or parabéns.

Is "feliz aniversário" used in Brazil and Portugal?

Yes, feliz aniversário works in both Brazil and Portugal, and the written form is identical. What differs is pronunciation: European Portuguese reduces the unstressed vowels, so the phrase sounds more compressed than the Brazilian version. You are also likely to hear parabéns on its own in both countries, as feliz aniversário turns up more often in writing, on cards and in messages.